Implications of the chemical transformation of Asian outflow aerosols for the long-range transport of inorganic nitrogen species

To improve our understanding of the chemical characteristics of aerosols transported from the Asian continent to the western North Pacific, an aerosol observation network has been established in Taiwan. From the measurements made during 2003–2005, it was found that the aerosol concentrations in the continental outflows were much higher than those of remote areas, evidently due to the long-range transport of air pollutants and dust from the Asian continent. Analysis on the chemical compositions of aerosols revealed that the Asian outflow aerosols underwent chemical transformation and, consequently, became more abundant in ammonium and nitrate when they mixed with air pollutants originating from Taiwan. The NH4+/SO42− ratio in fine aerosols (PM2.5) increased from 1.55 at the Cape Fuguei, the northern tip of Taiwan, to 2.30 at Penghu, in the middle of the Taiwan Strait. The increased NH4+/SO42− ratio implied that the acidity of the sulfate aerosols in Asian outflows was totally neutralized by ammonia as the aerosols traveled through the North Taiwan and its vicinity. In addition, the analysis indicated that the chlorine deficiency of sea salt aerosols was higher at the southern stations than at the Cape Fuguei. The chlorine deficiency was attributed to the heterogeneous reaction of NaCl and HNO3(g), which means that the oxidation of SO2 in sea spray droplets was inhibited. Moreover, uptake of secondary acids by the dust particles was observed. The results of this study suggested that the Asian outflow aerosols are important carriers of gaseous inorganic nitrogen species, particularly nitric acid and ammonia, in this region. Hence the atmospheric deposition of soluble inorganic nitrogen could become enhanced in the northern South China Sea, which is downwind of Taiwan during the periods of Asian winter monsoons.